Canadian Finance Blog10 Ways To Save – Canadian Finance Blog

Ways To Save Money

Tom Drake — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:00:51 +0000

You probably know a few good ways to save money. Finding out how to save money each month is one of the best ways to make the most of your paycheque. Lets look at a few money saving tips that have been posted here on Canadian Finance Blog.

How To Save Money Each Month

Start by looking to reduce your utility bills and other monthly bills. Here are some ways to save money on your electricity bill, gas bill and water bill. Two other services that have many opportunities to cut back include your cable bill and cell phone bill. Reducing these five bills could easily save you over $100 a month, more than $1,000 in a year.

With your bills whipped into shape, lets look at how to save money each month by reducing some other expenses. You can use these tips to save money on groceries or save money on gas.

How To Spend Less Each Year

There are many ways to save money on annual expenses as well. You might look to save money on a birthday party or save money on back to school shopping.

Then you also have gifts and entertaining for holidays. So make sure you save money on Christmas shopping and also save money on Valentine’s Day. Holidays should be about spending time with family and friends, not about going into debt!

How To Save While Travelling

Getting away for some time off isn’t always cheap. But with a little planning, you can save money on vacations and even get a few ideas to save money on car rentals. These tips will let you relax on your trip and not have to worry about spending too much.

I’m always looking for more ways to save money, do you any other money saving tips?

Ways To Save Money originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on November 23, 2010.

10 Ways To Save Money On A Birthday Party

Tom Drake — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 09:00:26 +0000

My wife and I don’t usually make a big deal about our birthdays, we normally just have some family over and have dinner and open presents. But coming up is a special birthday, our son Christian turns 1 year old in a couple weeks! So even though it’ll be a memorable day, we plan to save money while planning his birthday party.

Christian's first taste of birthday cake!

Plan ahead, just like other gift giving events such as Christmas. Planning ahead for a birthday party includes both budgeting throughout the year and picking up deals on presents and decorations when you see them.
You can save big by holding the party at your own house. While it might be tempting to hold a party for your child at an amusement park, this can cost you hundreds of dollars.
While there may not be much room at your house, keeping the invite list short can save you more in food costs.
If you truly need a larger location, check some publicly funded places like libraries or the zoo.
Stop by a dollar store for anything from gift wrap and cards to streamers and balloons.
Bake your own cake. You can pick up a box of cake mix and some icing for just a few dollars instead of having one made for ten times the price.
For food, you can save money on groceries at Costco to get a great price on a large amount of hamburgers, hot dogs and other birthday treats.
Having your child’s friends over? Plan frugal activities like musical chairs and pin the tail on the donkey.
You can create inexpensive treat bags by filling them with candies and stickers.
Instead of treat bags, you could plan an activity that allows them to take something home. This is not only a fun activity, but the kids will enjoy it more than just a bag of cheap plastic toys.

10 Ways To Save Money On A Birthday Party originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on September 20, 2010.

10 Ways To Reduce Your Cell Phone Bill

Tom Drake — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 09:00:15 +0000

Almost three years ago I signed a cell phone service contract because they gave me a great unadvertised plan with all the bells and whistles, including unlimited data, all for a final bill of $47 a month. I also got to stop into a store and pick up a new smartphone for only $99. Now that my contract is coming to an end, I will try to get the plan rolled over for another 3 years and maybe an iphone, but if that doesn’t happen I will consider all the options with these 10 ways to reduce your cell phone bill.

Review your current cell phone bill. Are you paying for more minutes than you are using? If you find some room to cut back, go online or phone your provider and see if you can change your plan.
If most of your calls are to just a handful of people, you may be able to get a family and friends plan that allows unlimited calling to 5 phone numbers.
If you’re not using your cell phone much at all, then look into prepaid phones to get the best value for your usage.
Maybe you have some extra features than you could do without? See how much you are paying and weight that against how much the feature is needed.
If you do need the extra options like caller ID and voicemail, there may be a package deal you can get instead of paying for individual features.
Consider an unlimited text messaging plan if your thumbs are sore from constantly typing messages.
If you have a contract ending soon, call your provider’s customer service department and see what they can offer you in to sign a new contract and stay on as a customer.
If the customer service department isn’t able to win you over, ask to cancel your service and you’ll be transfered to their second tier, or loyalty and retentions department. They will have more authority to give you a special deal.
Once you have a plan that’s worth signing a contract for, you might as well get a free phone, or at least a reduced price when it comes to some of the smartphones.
When your current provider just isn’t cutting it, it might be time to look at new cell phone providers entering the Canadian market like Wind Mobile.

10 Ways To Reduce Your Cell Phone Bill originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on September 15, 2010.

10 Ways To Save Money By Using The Internet

Tom Drake — Tue, 11 May 2010 09:00:35 +0000

The internet is a great source for information on how to save money. Whether you’re looking to get a discount on online purchases, car rentals or even groceries, these tips should provide you with some great ways to get the best price.

Research the item you are planning to purchase. The first step to truly saving money is getting the best value for your dollar.
Look for deals at sites like Red Flag Deals, Smart Canucks and Bargain Moose. They all offer a great source for finding the best deals either online or in stores. I saved over $1,000 on a TV from a price matching strategy I found in the Red Flag Deals forum.
If you’re shopping online, look to save on shipping. Even better, get free shipping. Many sites will offer shipping after your total order is past a certain dollar amount, others may offer a “free shipping” promotion.
Use Google to find discounts. Google the name of the website you are shopping at plus terms like “promo code”, “coupon code”, or “discount code”. To know what term any particular site uses, look for a box during the checkout process.
If you collect Air Miles or Aeroplan points, get special discounts by shopping from Air Miles Shops and Aeroplan eStore.
Shopping with a Visa? Visit the Visa Perks site and get promotion codes for huge discounts of 10%-75%.
To get more discounts direct from the online store, sign up for their email list. Whether it’s called a newsletter or email alert, many retailers will try to entice their contacts with special offers.
A newer way for stores to promote themselves is with Twitter and Facebook. Similar to the email lists, retailers will often post special deals to get you to come to their website and shop.
Check out store flyers online. Most store web sites include their flyer, plus you can find flyers on Flyerland and Grocery Alerts. Using online flyers can help you stay organized and you won’t have to deal with all the paper!
While looking to save money on groceries, head over to Save.ca to pick out coupons that they will mail to you. And these coupons save you more than just a few cents here and there, many are worth $1.00 or $2.00.

Do you have any other ways that you use the internet to save money?

10 Ways To Save Money By Using The Internet originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on May 11, 2010.

10 Ways To Save Money On Valentine’s Day

Tom Drake — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:00:38 +0000

With Valentine’s Day coming up this weekend, you might be wondering what you are going to get your significant other and what you should do for a date. While this can be an expensive day for many, fortunately there are a few ways that you can save money.

Instead of paying extra for a limited valentines menu at a restaurant, why not make dinner at home? Not only will this save you money, it’s more romantic than a crowded restaurant. To have even more fun, why not make supper together?
Another great way to show your love through cooking is providing breakfast in bed.
Maybe you’re not such a great cook? A fun valentine’s date could be to take a cooking class together.
Do something that’s not in high demand, and is also less expensive, like going to a museum or zoo.
Go to a dollar store for cards and chocolates. These items will cost you as much as five times more anywhere else.
If you want chocolates that are not available at the dollar store, wait until the 13th or even 14th to buy them elsewhere. Many stores drop the price of their valentines items in advance, no longer waiting until after Valentines Day to reduce them.
Make a coupon book that they can cash in whenever they want. This could be for anything you can think of, like back rubs, doing the dishes or watching a movie of their choice together.
Go to the movie for less than what you would pay at the till by picking up discounted passes at CAA or Costco.
Save even more money, and avoid the crowds, by renting a movie or watching one on television.
Create a photo album of memorable moments and special occasions. Make each page a theme, maybe a page for a favorite vacation or a page of pictures from Christmas?

Image by daveograve

10 Ways To Save Money On Valentine’s Day originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on February 11, 2010.

10 Ways To Save Money On Car Rentals

Tom Drake — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:00:05 +0000

Renting a car can be a frustrating and expensive experience. But with a bit of planning, you can save money on your car rentals and enjoy the ride!

Look for the best price on travel sites like Expedia and Travelocity.
Call the rental companies directly and see if they can beat the price you found online.
Additional discounts on car rentals are available through memberships with CAA or Entertainment.com.
Do you work for a large corporation? You may be able to get a discount or preferred service through their contract with a rental agency.
Choosing a smaller car will not only save you on the price of your car rental, but you’ll also save money on gas to run it.
There is often an additional fee to pick your car up at the airport. You can save some money by taking a taxi from the airport to another rental office. As a bonus, this may also save you the hassle of long lines at the busy airport rental office.
Skip the car rental insurance. Through either your regular car insurance or possibly even your credit card, you may have enough coverage to not need the loss damage waiver (LDW) and collision damage waiver (CDW) that car rental companies will pitch to you.
Look for any scratches or dents on the vehicle before signing the papers and driving away. When you return the car, you can be charged for any damage not listed from the original report.
Fill up the car’s gas tank before you return it. The rate the rental company will charge is much higher than what it will cost you to fill it yourself.
Find out how late the car can be returned without being charged for an extra day.

Image by ReservasdeCoches

10 Ways To Save Money On Car Rentals originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on January 13, 2010.

10 Ways To Save Money On Christmas Shopping

Tom Drake — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:00:16 +0000

For those who haven’t started Christmas shopping yet, Christmas is just one month away! Before you head out to get gifts for your loved ones, here are some tips to save money when shopping for Christmas presents.

Image by Sister72

First off, set a budget and stick to it. If you have a list of what you want to get each person, it will save you time and keep your spending on track.
Don’t go overboard on stocking stuffers. This is a great chance to be frugal by shopping for little gifts at the dollar store and including some candies, nuts and mandarin oranges.
You can cut down on shopping for extended family by setting up a gift exchange. Draw names and each person will only buy for the one person whose name they drew. Everyone gets a gift and you all save possibly hundreds of dollars!
Shop early if a decent sale comes along. Not only will this save you money, but it can save you the hassle of crowds in December.
Another way to avoid crowds and save money is to shop online. You can often find products cheaper, but keep an eye on shipping costs to ensure you really are getting a deal.
To save money on shipping, shop soon to give you time to use many sites’ free shipping options. The closer to Christmas, the more you’ll need to pay for priority or express shipping.
Avoid extended warranties on your purchases. If an item is defective, it’s likely to have issues within the standard warranty’s time frame.
You might want to skip getting someone a gift card. An estimated 10% of gift cards are never redeemed.
Some restaurants have been enticing people to buy gift cards by including a bonus gift card. While this can be a great deal, check out the bonus card as it may have an expiry date.
Keep all your receipts in a safe place since items may be broken or clothes might not fit. While some stores will except returns without a receipt, it will be at whatever their lowest price has been on that item.

10 Ways To Save Money On Christmas Shopping originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on November 25, 2009.

10 Ways To Reduce Your Cable Or Satellite TV Bill

Tom Drake — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:46 +0000

With the majority of households looking for ways to cut their expenses, television might be the first non-essential bill you’ll want to look at. Fortunately there are a few ways to save money on your television bill.

Look to bundle with other services. You can most likely get your television, internet and telephone all though one company, which can lead to some big savings.
Don’t pay for more channels than you need. While many companies only offer a few tiers of channel options, others allow an a la carte option. If you look at which shows you actually want to watch, you might find than you only need about 10 channels.
Don’t order Pay Per View sports. The price of one UFC or WWE event could double your monthly cable bill. You could buy a ticket to a game for the monthly cost of NHL Centre Ice or NFL Sunday Ticket.
The same goes for PPV movies, you might be better off using a by-mail service like Zip.ca. Or even better yet, many libraries now offer DVDs, though they may not have the greatest selection.
Save money on your set top box. With either cable or satellite, you may need a box to view HDTV and some now have built in PVRs (Personal Video Recorders). You can save money by buying these on sale at some of the big box stores. The cable or satellite company may also have previously used boxes that you can get for cheap.
Using a PVR can save you the cost of a time-shifting package. Time-shifting is simply offering you the ability to watch major stations from other time zones. This gives you more flexibility on when you watch your favourite shows. However, if you can record all your shows with a PVR function, you will have even greater flexibility and it may save you some money by avoiding essentially duplicate channels.
It can be worth your while to call your television service provider and negotiate a deal. If you’re considering leaving for another company, having a talk with the retention department to see what they can offer you might change your mind.
Similarly, if you notice that your television provider is offering a special promotion to new subscribers, give them a call and see if you can get the same deal as a loyal customer.
While more common in the US, look into using an HDTV antenna to pull in free television over the air. There is not much available to most of Canada, but CBC, CTV and Global may be broadcasting in your area. These channels alone may have most of the shows you want to see, and it’s free and legal.
Another form of free, legal television is watching online. Many of the broadcast stations show episodes on their websites. There are also sites like Hulu.com, but it is currently blocked in Canada while they are working to secure international broadcasting rights.

10 Ways To Reduce Your Cable Or Satellite TV Bill originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on October 26, 2009.

10 Ways To Save Money On Back To School Shopping

Tom Drake — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:00:35 +0000

With school coming soon, many parents will be back to school shopping for supplies and new clothing for their children. Here are some tips to get you through this busy time and also save money!

Make a list of the items you need and stick to the list. No different than grocery shopping, there will always be temptations in the isles that you may not really need.
Look at what supplies you still have from last year and are still in good condition to be used this year. While kids may be rough on the supplies, you shouldn’t need to buy a new stapler or ruler every year.
Look at the flyers for deals. Almost every major store will have back to school sales right now. Comparing advertisements and getting the best price can be accomplished easily leading up to the first day of school.
Check out dollar stores. They have many of the usual supplies like pens, pencils, rulers and tape.
Costco may be another option as well, especially if you have more than one child since most of the supplies come in multiples.
When shopping for back to school clothing, look in the closet first to decide what is actually needed. Set a budget and stay within it.
Try to stay away from some of the “coolest” brand names if it also means that they’re the most expensive.
You don’t need to buy all the school clothes in time for the first day of school either. There may be other deals later in the year.
If you’re looking for used clothing, visit garage sales and search on eBay, Kijiji and Craigslist.
For something a little different, consider hosting a clothing swap. Parents can bring clothes that no longer fit their children and then pick clothes from the pile that other parents brought. Everyone takes home the same amount of clothes that they came with, but your child will have “new” clothes that fit!

10 Ways To Save Money On Back To School Shopping originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on August 20, 2009.

10 Ways To Save Money On Your Vacation

Tom Drake — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:00:30 +0000

With school out and everyone getting ready for their vacation, here are 10 ways for you to save money this summer.

Save for your vacation. Like anything else, saving in advance instead of using credit will save you money by earning interest instead of paying interest.
Check out websites such as Expedia and Sell Off Vacations for deals on hotels, attractions and cruises.
Before committing to any offers on the sites above, compare to what you can get direct from the airlines and hotels to confirm it’s a better price.
Use Trip Advisor to compare hotels. This site has many reviews for each hotel and you can find out which is the best for your spending budget.
Look for coupons on the websites of attractions or restaurants you plan to visit. Almost every zoo, museum or amusement park has discount coupons on it’s web site.
Are you a member of the CAA or AAA? These memberships can get your further discounts on hotels and rental cars. Stop in your local branch before you go and get free maps and travel brochures.
Pack efficiently. Don’t bring more clothes than you really need and roll your clothes so they fit into less bags. With many airlines charging for extra bags, this can be an easy way to save money. At the same time though, don’t over stuff a large bag as it will put you over the airline’s weight limits and they’ll charge extra for that as well.
If going to a beach destination, have a look at all inclusive resorts. With food, drinks and the many activities included, this will save you from constantly pulling out your wallet throughout your vacation.
Going to an amusement park? You might want to bring some snacks and bottled drinks in a backpack or purse. The prices at the parks are amazingly expensive.
Travel in the off season. Not only can this save you money on airfare and hotels, but the crowds will be smaller at most places you visit.

10 Ways To Save Money On Your Vacation originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on June 29, 2009.